Tony Abbott slapped down by 11-year-old

Passionate: Orlando Burcham wrote a letter to Tony Abbott about gay marriage. Source: Supplied

HIS mother is a Liberal councillor but that didn't stop one 11-year-old boy from writing a passionate letter to Tony Abbott, calling out his "pathetic" stance on gay marriage.

Orlando Burcham's letter has been published on websites around the world after it was posted on Facebook, along with a response from the Prime Minister last week.

Orlando Burcham's letter to Tony Abbott on gay marriage. Source: Supplied

In the letter Orlando writes:

"Dear Tony Abbott

My name is Orlando Burcham, I am 11 years old and I would like to know why you don't allow "gay marriage" in Australia. Because the majority of Australians are happily married, so why are you stopping all the gay men/women to be married in this beautiful country?

My mother is gay and even worse your own sister is gay! And thousands more are as well. You have actually met my mum (Councillor Cordelia Troy) who is a member of the Liberal Party and she was deputy major at the time. It is so pathetic that you aren't letting the gay people of Australia and other countries get married here. Millions of people in the world and when they come to Australia and think "wow this place is great! Let's get married here!" And then they remember that they can't. So they spend thousands of dollars to go somewhere they can get married. My mum is married but she had to go to New York, which took a lot of money.

You were elected to represent our country, not yourself. Just because you think it's wrong, does not give you the right to make it illegal. Doesn't our opinions matter to you? Just because you're the Prime Minister, which by the way does not give you all the power.

I hope you change your mind."

'Pathetic': Orlando Burcham's verdict on Tony Abbott's stance on gay marriage. Source: Supplied

Mother Cordelia Troy, who is a Liberal councillor on Cessnock City Council told news.com.au reading the letter almost made her cry.

"I was absolutely rapt, I read it and tears came to my eyes," Ms Troy said.

The mother-of-four said she had raised her children to discuss politics at the dinner table, often asking them what they thought about council issues, to refine their own critical thinking.

"I've taught them that they can have their voice heard and change the way people think, by telling them what they think," Ms Troy said.

She said 99 per cent of feedback on the letter had been positive, although some did question whether Orlando's letter could have been written by a 11-year-old.

Ms Troy said she did not provide any help except to advise her son to be respectful and to answer questions about spelling.

A member of the Liberal party for six years, Ms Troy married her new partner Marissa Burrier last year in New York.

She said it had not been easy to divorce her children's father and come out as gay but her family had accepted her choices and she hoped this would eventually be reflected within her party as well.

"Obviously being a member of the Liberal party it pains me the stance that the executive takes," Ms Troy said.

Married in NY: Cordelia Troy (left) and her partner Marissa Burrier. Source: News Corp Australia

"But I absolutely believe there is a movement towards change, that will see it refined and crystallised towards support for marriage equality within the party."

Under the leadership of Tony Abbott the party does not support gay marriage but Ms Troy said she hoped this would change once someone else took over.

She said there were a lot of "interwoven emotions" about sticking with a party that didn't support gay marriage and she had even contemplated leaving the Liberals but ultimately felt she could achieve more within the party than outside of it.

"I know Tony Abbott's sister Christine and her partner and I think it must also be very difficult for them," she said.

Fortunately her sexuality has never been an issue within the party and her constituents also seem accepting.

As a councillor in a regional area located in the Hunter Valley, west of Newcastle, she said strangers had come up to her in the street and told her they were pleased she was living her life the way she wanted to.

"I have never had anybody confront me in the street, that tells me there is a real mood for acceptance in the community," she said.

While the formal response from the Prime Minister was a bit disappointing, Ms Troy said she was grateful that it was respectful.

Response: Tony Abbott writes back to Orlando Burcham. Source: Supplied

The Prime Minister wrote:

"Dear Orlando

Thank you for letting me know your views about same sex marriage.

I appreciate the deep feelings that many in the community have on either side of the issue.

The Government supports the current definition of marriage contained in the Marriage Act 1961. Any change to this policy would be a matter for the Coalition Party Room.

My personal opinion is to support the existing definition of marriage.

Though we disagree on this issue, I respect the views you have put forward.

Ongoing dialogue between government and citizens keeps our democracy strong.

Thank you again for writing to me.

Yours sincerely

Tony Abbott"

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